About the Author:
Azwa Malik has been working as a clinical nurse at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) since 2022. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) from the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKU-SONAM) and is now pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MScN) from the same institution. She is passionate about nursing excellence, continuous learning, and contributing to patient care through evidence-based practice.
Gul (2025) stated, “Nursing,
despite being the backbone of healthcare, is still viewed through a gendered
lens that limits its influence”. In an era of the 21st century, gender equality
is lacking in societies due to its deep-rooted norms and individual perceptions
they already had. Thus, this has a great impact on the nursing profession too.
Gender equality is not just an ethical imperative in the healthcare system but
women making the largest workforce in nursing still get bound sometimes due to
men who are dominated and most influenced in society with leadership roles and
decision-making ability, globally. Thus, the persistent stigma that nursing is
“feminine oriented occupation” remains the same by creating ample of barriers
for both women and men working within this profession.
Moreover, it is discussed by the
Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME), that nursing is composed of
75% of women and 25% of men almost in all developing countries (Masoumi et al.,
2020). Therefore, such inequalities in human resources and the labor force can
create a burden and pressure for all healthcare workers mainly females. Also,
this will greatly impact the nursing care of patients. A shortage of male
nurses will ultimately affect the care of male patients; they might suffer
which can lead to poor prognosis. Additionally, in Pakistan, there is always
less acceptance of male nurses as our society does not consider male nursing a
suitable profession for them. Moreover, such patriarchal societies will always
refuse female dominating professions like nursing for males. However, it is
found that in Pakistan’s healthcare system, male nursing has brought many
benefits such as appropriate division of work and gender balance within nursing
(Abbas et al., 2020).
We should acknowledge that the
number of male nurses is persistently growing, yet they still encounter unique
challenges in the healthcare industry. The biggest hurdle is the stigma
associated with being a male in a traditionally female-dominated field. Male
nurses may encounter stereotypes, misapprehensions, and even racism from
patients, associates, and the public at large. Countering and overcoming these
obstacles require a strong sense of self-determination and the courage to break
down gender barriers. Male nurses can bring a distinct standpoint to patient
care, offering a harmonizing approach to their female associates. Research has
proven that patients, if provided with good healthcare facilities, are most
likely to benefit from having diverse nursing personnel, as it leads to
enhanced communication, desired patient results, and increased patient
gratification. Male nurses can bring and provide a different level of physical
strength and may accomplish those tasks that require lifting or moving patients.
Their population in healthcare institutions contributes to a well-rounded team
and enhances overall patient care. While men are advancing in the nursing
profession, there is some more work to be done to achieve gender parity in
leadership roles. This is a fact: most nursing leadership positions are held by
women. Getting over and breaking down gender barriers also means endorsing
equal prospects for men to assume leadership positions. By inspiring and
supporting male nurses to pursue leadership roles, we can create a more
balanced and diverse nursing profession.
In conclusion, achieving gender
equality in nursing is a must for improving the quality of healthcare. Hence,
numerous multidimensional strategies and efforts are required to bring this
into action. It has always seemed that nursing has always offered several
opportunities and support to females, so why not offer the same to men?
Educating societies about gender diversity in nursing is a key element to
breaking this stereotype. A zero-tolerance policy on gender discrimination must
be set within a healthcare organization, including its healthcare practices
(McMullan et al., 2025). Nevertheless, every nurse no matter male or female
deserves equal respect and acknowledgment. Let’s strive for change and be
together to reconstruct such challenges into developments.
References
Abbas,
S., Zakar, R., & Fischer, F. (2020). Qualitative study of socio-cultural
challenges in the
nursing profession in
Pakistan. BMC nursing, 19, 1-7.
Gul,
S. (2025, March 14). ‘Can gender equality in nursing drive a power shift in
healthcare?’
Nursing Times. https://www.nursingtimes.net/students/can-gender-equality-in-nursing-drive-a-power-shift-in-healthcare-14-03-2025/
Masoumi,
S. J., Nasabi, N. A., Varzandeh, M., & Bordbar, N. (2020). Gender Equality
among
Nurses: Promotion Strategies for
Gender Equality. Health Management & Information Science, 7(4),
252-258.
McMullan,
J., Thompson, D. R., Dixon, A., Palumbo, A., Dickinson, T., Jourdain, P., ...
& Quinn,
B.
(2025). Exploring perceptions of what increased gender diversity might bring to
the
nursing
profession. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81(1),
450-462.
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